In News:

• Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the highest decision-making body for the telecom sector, has given an in-principle approval to monetise 2.5 lakh km of fibre laid under the government’s flagship BharatNet programme, by leasing or selling the assets to private players.

Explained:

• Because we have not been able to ensure effective utilization so, its proposed that fibre assets should be offered on lease or sold off through an auction to private players. Some fibre will be retained by BBNL (Bharat Broadband Network Limited)
• The lease model is being worked out and the USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund) has been asked to present a plan within 10 days, along with estimates of the revenue proceeds.
• Further, the DCC has asked the loss-making telecom PSUs — BSNL and MTNL — to present a plan on how they could achieve higher revenue if the revival package sought by them was approved.
• Both firms have asked for monetization of land assets as well as approval for a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees. “The VRS scheme for BSNL and MTNL will have a revenue impact of Rs. 6,365 crore and Rs. 2,120 crore respectively

What is Digital Communications Commission (DCC)?

• The Digital Communications Commission (DCC), formerly Telecom Commission, is DCC,
• the apex decision-making body at the DoT
• USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund):

Vision:

• Enabling rural Indians to achieve their fullest potential and participate productively in the development of the nation by virtue of being
• effectively connected through a reliable and ubiquitous telecommunications network, access to which is within their reach and within their means.

Objective:

• Economic

  Network extension & stimulate uptake of the ICT services

• Social

  Mainstreaming the underserved & un-served areas/groups by bridging the Access

• Gap Political:

  to enable citizens exercise their political rights in an informed way and

• Constitutional

  Equitable distribution of the fruits of the telecom/digital revolution and fair allocation of national resource (pooled USO levy) via targeted subsidies.

Digital India:

• The Digital India programme is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
• The vision of Digital India programme is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
• Digital  India  is   an  umbrella programme that covers multiple Government Ministries and Departments. It weaves together a large number of ideas and thoughts into a single, comprehensive vision so that each of them can be implemented as part of a larger goal. Each individual element stands on its own, but is also part of the larger picture.